SPEX303 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
Why is BP important for physiological function? - (answer) Ensures adequate perfusion of tissues which
is essential for blood to circulate to all the places it should go
How does BP respond acutely to exercise and why does response depend on intensity? - (answer)
Rises during static exercise, response depends on intensity because blood pressure increase as cardiac
output does to increased oxygen demand from the working muscles.
How does cardiac output change during dynamic exercise and how is blood flow distributed to different
tissues during exercise? - (answer) 5-8 fold increase in cardiac output. During exercise, blood flow to
the GI tract and kidneys is reduced but blood flow to the muscles increases as well to the brain slightly
but the change is a large relative decrease.
What factors control regional blood flow to tissues like the brain, muscles and skin during exercise -
(answer) SNS nerves and receptors, myogenic autoregulation specifically to the brain and kidney and
metabolic auto regulation such as temperature, pH, CO2 and ATP in the striated muscle
What role do local factors such as nitric oxide and metabolic byproducts play in controlling blood flow to
active muscles? - (answer) NO released from muscle, RBC's and endotheialil cells. NO promotes
vasodilation with the released mediated by mechanical stress on the blood vessel walls and hypoxia.
Because NO causes relaxation of the smooth muscle it leads to vasodilation which allow for increased
blood flow to active muscle due to decreased vascular resistance. CO leads to localised vasodilation and
ATP redistribute blood flow by stimulating SNS meaning the heart beats faster and shuts down inactive
muscle allowing for more blood to be distributed to working muscles
How does blood volume typically change during acute exercise? - (answer) Commonly decreases at
onset and within a few days it rises due to stress hormones and depending on posture in hours post
exercise.
What are the primary causes of acute plasma volume reduction in exercise? - (answer) Sweating which
means fluid is lost decreasing plasma volume and fluid lost into interstitial space due to decrease in
capillary permeability which allows fluid to leak through blood vessels into surrounding tissue
What are the primary determinant of stroke volume during exercise and how do factored like preload
and after load infueluce it? - (answer) Preload, afterload and contractility. Preload influences it as it
determines the stretch of the heart muscle fibers before contraction, a higher stroke volume is
,SPEX303 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
experienced as the heart stretches with increased blood volume which generates a stronger contraction.
Afterload influences it as reduced afterload during aerobic exercise enhances stroke volume as
vasodilation in active muscles decreases systemic vascular resistance.
How does heart rate respond to increasing exercise intensity, and what role do the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems play in this response? - (answer) Heart rate rises with increasing
exercise intensity, but those trained have a lower HR at any given intensity. At low to moderate intensity,
HR increases quickly due to withdrawal of the PNS and slight activation of SNS. At moderate to high
intensity HR continues to rise due to greater activation of the SNS, at moderate intensities stroke volume
plateaus so further increases in cardiac output rely primarily on heart rate. At rest the PNS helps to keep
heart rate low but at the onset of exercise, it is withdrawn. The SNS takes over at moderate to high
intensities to stimulate the release of catecholamines which bind to the beta-adrenergic receptors
increasing heart rate.
what are the different methods for measuring cardiac output during exercise and what are the
advantages and limitations of techniques such as the Fick method and echocardiography? - (answer)
Indirect ficks are invasive and specialist, they involve a thermal or dye dilution and direct involve sticking
needles into the right ventricle indirect involve putting cold saline into blood and seeing how fast it
dilutes. Indirect method with CO2 rebreathe requires a stable VO2 and is invalid when not in stead state
VCO2. Impedance cardiograph is when can measure electrical resistance across the chest and as the
heart pumps through it changes the electrical impedance but method is only good at rest. Ultrasound is
good for seeing dynamics as it can measure the speed of blood coming out.
Main chronic adaptations to endurance training that improve cardiac output and overall performance -
(answer) Bigger end diastolic volume, bigger chamber with trained heart has more ventricular mass
from pressure loading the muscle. Has improved calcium handling which improves myocardial
contractility helping the heart pump more effectively and increased rate of filling which improves
diastolic function allowing the heart to fill more rapidly contributing to increased cardiac output.
How does training influence EDV, contractility and stroke volume? - (answer) Left ventricle becomes
larger which allows greater filling during diastole, improved calcium handling improves myocardial
contractility and stroke volume is influenced by increased EDV and contractility.
How does exercise training enhance cardiac resilience against ischemia and reperfusion injury? -
(answer) Increased antioxidants such as MnSOD help mediate cardiac resistance as they reduce
oxidative stress, heat shock proteins help repair damaged proteins in the heart muscle. Potassium
channels are maintained which helps restrict the calcium accumulation which can cause ischaemia.
, SPEX303 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
How does exercise training affect autonomic function and blood volume, and what role do these
extrinsic factors play in supporting cardiac output during exercise? - (answer) Exercise increases plasma
volume and RBC which contribute to a higher blood volume which enhances venous return increasing
preload and resulting in a greater stroke volume.
How do interval training and high-intensity exercise differ from lower-intensity steady-state exercise in
terms of cardiac adaptations? - (answer) Interval and high-intensity training cause greater stress on the
CVS which leads to more pronounced adaptations in myocardial hypertrophy, stroke volume and cardiac
efficiency promoting a faster increase in cardiac output. Steady state exercise improves endurance as it
increases aerobic capacity and enhances fat oxidation.
What is the time course for different cardiac adaptations, such as changes in stroke volume, heart mass,
and ventricular compliance, with exercise training? - (answer) Myocardial stress proteins and plasma
volume are quick to adapt however heart mass and especially ventricular compliance take a little longer.
Which cardiac adaptations from exercise training provide the greatest health benefits, particularly in
reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases? - (answer) Improved potassium channel maintenance
ensures calcium doesn't build up which could cause ischaemia and lead to CVD. Improved stroke volume
lowers the risk of hypertension and heart failure as it reduces the workload on the heart at rest and
during submaximal exercise.
How can lifelong exercise prevent age-related changes in the heart, such as stiffening of heart valves and
loss of cardiomyocytes? - (answer) Exercise prevents valve stiffening that can occur with aging, reduces
cardiomyocyte loss which promotes cell survival and prevents cell death which helps the heart to
maintain function.
What important adaptations occur rapidly within these CVS components? Which occurs slowly? -
(answer) Rapid adaptations include increased plasma volume which improves venous return which in
turn enhances stroke volume and cardiac output during exercise, increased cardiac output as a result of
enhanced stroke volume and more efficient heart function. Increased capillary density increases oxygen
delivery and waste removal in active tissues which enhances endurance capacity but takes time as does
improved ventricular compliance but it allows for greater end diastolic volume and improved stroke
volume.
ANSWERS
Why is BP important for physiological function? - (answer) Ensures adequate perfusion of tissues which
is essential for blood to circulate to all the places it should go
How does BP respond acutely to exercise and why does response depend on intensity? - (answer)
Rises during static exercise, response depends on intensity because blood pressure increase as cardiac
output does to increased oxygen demand from the working muscles.
How does cardiac output change during dynamic exercise and how is blood flow distributed to different
tissues during exercise? - (answer) 5-8 fold increase in cardiac output. During exercise, blood flow to
the GI tract and kidneys is reduced but blood flow to the muscles increases as well to the brain slightly
but the change is a large relative decrease.
What factors control regional blood flow to tissues like the brain, muscles and skin during exercise -
(answer) SNS nerves and receptors, myogenic autoregulation specifically to the brain and kidney and
metabolic auto regulation such as temperature, pH, CO2 and ATP in the striated muscle
What role do local factors such as nitric oxide and metabolic byproducts play in controlling blood flow to
active muscles? - (answer) NO released from muscle, RBC's and endotheialil cells. NO promotes
vasodilation with the released mediated by mechanical stress on the blood vessel walls and hypoxia.
Because NO causes relaxation of the smooth muscle it leads to vasodilation which allow for increased
blood flow to active muscle due to decreased vascular resistance. CO leads to localised vasodilation and
ATP redistribute blood flow by stimulating SNS meaning the heart beats faster and shuts down inactive
muscle allowing for more blood to be distributed to working muscles
How does blood volume typically change during acute exercise? - (answer) Commonly decreases at
onset and within a few days it rises due to stress hormones and depending on posture in hours post
exercise.
What are the primary causes of acute plasma volume reduction in exercise? - (answer) Sweating which
means fluid is lost decreasing plasma volume and fluid lost into interstitial space due to decrease in
capillary permeability which allows fluid to leak through blood vessels into surrounding tissue
What are the primary determinant of stroke volume during exercise and how do factored like preload
and after load infueluce it? - (answer) Preload, afterload and contractility. Preload influences it as it
determines the stretch of the heart muscle fibers before contraction, a higher stroke volume is
,SPEX303 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
experienced as the heart stretches with increased blood volume which generates a stronger contraction.
Afterload influences it as reduced afterload during aerobic exercise enhances stroke volume as
vasodilation in active muscles decreases systemic vascular resistance.
How does heart rate respond to increasing exercise intensity, and what role do the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems play in this response? - (answer) Heart rate rises with increasing
exercise intensity, but those trained have a lower HR at any given intensity. At low to moderate intensity,
HR increases quickly due to withdrawal of the PNS and slight activation of SNS. At moderate to high
intensity HR continues to rise due to greater activation of the SNS, at moderate intensities stroke volume
plateaus so further increases in cardiac output rely primarily on heart rate. At rest the PNS helps to keep
heart rate low but at the onset of exercise, it is withdrawn. The SNS takes over at moderate to high
intensities to stimulate the release of catecholamines which bind to the beta-adrenergic receptors
increasing heart rate.
what are the different methods for measuring cardiac output during exercise and what are the
advantages and limitations of techniques such as the Fick method and echocardiography? - (answer)
Indirect ficks are invasive and specialist, they involve a thermal or dye dilution and direct involve sticking
needles into the right ventricle indirect involve putting cold saline into blood and seeing how fast it
dilutes. Indirect method with CO2 rebreathe requires a stable VO2 and is invalid when not in stead state
VCO2. Impedance cardiograph is when can measure electrical resistance across the chest and as the
heart pumps through it changes the electrical impedance but method is only good at rest. Ultrasound is
good for seeing dynamics as it can measure the speed of blood coming out.
Main chronic adaptations to endurance training that improve cardiac output and overall performance -
(answer) Bigger end diastolic volume, bigger chamber with trained heart has more ventricular mass
from pressure loading the muscle. Has improved calcium handling which improves myocardial
contractility helping the heart pump more effectively and increased rate of filling which improves
diastolic function allowing the heart to fill more rapidly contributing to increased cardiac output.
How does training influence EDV, contractility and stroke volume? - (answer) Left ventricle becomes
larger which allows greater filling during diastole, improved calcium handling improves myocardial
contractility and stroke volume is influenced by increased EDV and contractility.
How does exercise training enhance cardiac resilience against ischemia and reperfusion injury? -
(answer) Increased antioxidants such as MnSOD help mediate cardiac resistance as they reduce
oxidative stress, heat shock proteins help repair damaged proteins in the heart muscle. Potassium
channels are maintained which helps restrict the calcium accumulation which can cause ischaemia.
, SPEX303 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2023-2024 ACTUAL EXAM 200 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
How does exercise training affect autonomic function and blood volume, and what role do these
extrinsic factors play in supporting cardiac output during exercise? - (answer) Exercise increases plasma
volume and RBC which contribute to a higher blood volume which enhances venous return increasing
preload and resulting in a greater stroke volume.
How do interval training and high-intensity exercise differ from lower-intensity steady-state exercise in
terms of cardiac adaptations? - (answer) Interval and high-intensity training cause greater stress on the
CVS which leads to more pronounced adaptations in myocardial hypertrophy, stroke volume and cardiac
efficiency promoting a faster increase in cardiac output. Steady state exercise improves endurance as it
increases aerobic capacity and enhances fat oxidation.
What is the time course for different cardiac adaptations, such as changes in stroke volume, heart mass,
and ventricular compliance, with exercise training? - (answer) Myocardial stress proteins and plasma
volume are quick to adapt however heart mass and especially ventricular compliance take a little longer.
Which cardiac adaptations from exercise training provide the greatest health benefits, particularly in
reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases? - (answer) Improved potassium channel maintenance
ensures calcium doesn't build up which could cause ischaemia and lead to CVD. Improved stroke volume
lowers the risk of hypertension and heart failure as it reduces the workload on the heart at rest and
during submaximal exercise.
How can lifelong exercise prevent age-related changes in the heart, such as stiffening of heart valves and
loss of cardiomyocytes? - (answer) Exercise prevents valve stiffening that can occur with aging, reduces
cardiomyocyte loss which promotes cell survival and prevents cell death which helps the heart to
maintain function.
What important adaptations occur rapidly within these CVS components? Which occurs slowly? -
(answer) Rapid adaptations include increased plasma volume which improves venous return which in
turn enhances stroke volume and cardiac output during exercise, increased cardiac output as a result of
enhanced stroke volume and more efficient heart function. Increased capillary density increases oxygen
delivery and waste removal in active tissues which enhances endurance capacity but takes time as does
improved ventricular compliance but it allows for greater end diastolic volume and improved stroke
volume.
